If I were a gambler, I would bet everything I have that nine out of 10 people think having fame and fortune means having fewer problems and being happy.

Not true.

When my life got out of control in America a few years back, I did what I thought was best to save and find myself. I stepped off the NBA court and walked away from the game I love for about one year.

I was not in the right frame of mind to give my all to anything.

Dealing with my off- the-court issues and the death of loved ones, including my father, Don Marbury, was just too much for me.

Yes, I had a lot of money and I lived well. But, I did not have peace of mind.

I had to learn a few tough lessons from experience. Money cannot make you happy, nor can money buy you the things in life that mean so much.

We try to be perfect, but no one is. Yet, we should strive for perfection and to live a righteous life.

Because I am making that attempt, I am happier and healthier physically, mentally and emotionally. I have a new-found personal freedom. My family is always there for me. So are the few good friends I consider my blood relatives.

And I am definitely thankful for all my new friends in China, especially here in Beijing. I feel like you have treated me like a mother treats her child - with unconditional love. That is real talk.

My love grew for the people here three years ago when I came to China, and we began connecting on the social page Weibo.

Today, I receive hundreds, if not thousands, of messages daily. I love reading the messages - they are food for my soul. We often talk about our ups and downs in life. But, I tend to share stories about the fruits of my life, not the rubbish of my past.

I believe our past mistakes can prepare us for a brighter and better future if we learn from them. I feel like I have learned a lot in recent years and still am learning, which is why I feel so blessed right now.

But I would not have received my current blessings had I not come to China.

Yes, making the move to come live here has been an adjustment for me as I left what I knew for the unknown.

I am glad I did though; I feel renewed. I found a sense of peace and pleasure, and I fell in love with basketball again.

Everyone deals with life's challenges differently.

I stood still. I prayed. I cried and I mediated on the word of God.

As you may know, I am a Christian, and I try my hardest to live right and by the scriptures in the Holy Bible. One scripture, in particular, that comes to mind is Luke 12:48. It states, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required"

God has truly blessed me. That is why I feel I must love and bless others, especially those who grew up like me and do not have much.

Love is love. So many people ask me why I say that. I say it because GOD is love. When we spread love, we get love, and sharing my love with you by a kind word or a gesture is uplifting to my spirit.

Reach one, teach one. It is a simple concept, yet so profound, and I think we should all try to live by it.

I am truly thankful to my mother, Mabel Marbury, for teaching me what love is and how to show love and receive love.

Unfortunately, some people have not been taught, so they do not get the true essence of love.

I count my blessings that the Chinese people do.

Thank you for what you have done and the love you have shown me.

As far as basketball news, we won our last game and recently have been playing well as a team despite losing two of our all-stars, a starter and a reserve. Thankfully, other players have stepped up.

When we get back to full strength, I think we will be much better after experiencing the highs and lows of the season.

Our game on Wednesday should be exciting. We play one of the CBA's best players, J.R. Smith. Smith leads the CBA in scoring and brings some flair to the game.

Until then, I say to all of you in China and those reading this story around the world - Love is love. Peace.

Sincerely Yours,

Starbury

Stephon Marbury can be reached at sports@chinadaily.com.cn